Danner Mountain 600.

The Gavler Review.

Danner Mountain 600 Review: A Heritage Leather Boot That Hikes Like a Sneaker

The Danner Mountain 600 is a heritage-styled leather hiker that wears like a trainer, and on Gavler's Best Hiking Boots list it takes rank 8 with a score of 8.0/10. It is comfortable, grippy on ordinary trails, and good looking at about $220 to $250. It is also warm, low in the tongue, and the wrong tool for scrambles or heavy packs.

What it is

The Mountain 600 is a 4.5-inch full-grain leather boot with a Vibram SPE midsole and Vibram Fuga outsole with Megagrip, per Advnture and OutdoorGearLab. Danner sells more than one version. The reviews we read cover the Leaf GTX, which uses Gore-Tex; we found no test of the classic Danner Dry version or the EVO variant, so nothing below should be assumed to carry over to those. We also could not confirm any source on the recrafting (resoling) claim, so we leave it out of our assessment.

In use

Every reviewer we read liked how it feels. OutdoorGearLab scored the Leaf GTX 75 overall (rank 7 of 18) with comfort 8.0, water resistance 8.0, and durability 8.0, then 7.0 for support and traction. RunRepeat, quoted in our product data, found "its superbly comfy midsole and well-padded interior made my long weekends on lighter trails a dream."

Grip impressions are mostly positive. Grough: "Overall grip from the boot was very good, with traction and braking on rock from the MegaGrip very assured." Advnture: "excellent traction and good control." Treeline said "I found the traction excellent." OutdoorGearLab was more reserved, citing "average traction on loose material."

Heat and water crossings are the recurring gripes. Grough: "my feet did get pretty warm on long walks in higher temperatures." Advnture warned that "the tongue is a real weak spot when it comes to stream and river crossings" and listed "only waterproof to the ankle" as a con.

Strengths

• Comfort. OutdoorGearLab's 8.0 comfort score and the praise from RunRepeat and CleverHiker's 4.1 out of 5 rating point the same way.
• Grip on ordinary trails. Three of five reviewers called it very good or excellent.
• Durability. OutdoorGearLab scored it 8.0.
• Looks. Rare for a hiker: it is a leather boot you can wear off trail.

Trade-offs and who should skip it

Skip it if you plan technical terrain. Grough: "I wouldn't recommend the 600 Leaf GTX for scrambly, technical routes." Advnture: "don't go attempting anything too tricky or technical while wearing them." OutdoorGearLab added that "for really hard and fast chargers, something more aggressive might be needed."

Skip it if you carry heavy loads or have weak ankles. OutdoorGearLab: "those with weak ankles might prefer a stiffer boot for backpacking, though." Treeline said ankle support "felt insufficient on challenging hikes with steeper and less stable terrain." CleverHiker called it "not the best option for multi-day trips" and reported a long break-in period, adding that it is "heavy on long hikes."

Skip it for hot, dry climates. CleverHiker said "warm, dry climates like Utah will likely want something more breathable."

Weight claims are inconsistent, so treat the numbers loosely. Sources range from 2 lb 2 oz to 3.03 lb per pair, depending on size and scale. A rough picture is a mid-weight boot that feels lighter underfoot than it looks.

How it compares

The Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof (rank 3) is cheaper and the standard comfort pick, with less style and no leather resole story. The Oboz Bridger Mid Waterproof (rank 6) is stiffer and more supportive for heavier loads. For serious pack weight, the Salomon Quest 5 GTX (rank 1) is the boot to shop.

Buying notes

Check which version you are buying. The reviews above all cover the Leaf GTX, which is the Gore-Tex model, and prices in those reviews range from $220 to $250 in the US (Grough lists £175 in the UK). Weight claims also differ by source, so do not rely on a single figure. Fit advice is worth noting: OutdoorGearLab found a "vague fit for narrow feet," and CleverHiker flagged a long break-in, so allow several short walks before a longer trip. If you often cross streams, remember Advnture's warning about the tongue, because deep water will find its way in over the ankle.

The Gavler verdict

8.0 out of 10. The Danner Mountain 600 is the best-looking, most sneaker-like leather hiker on our list, with trustworthy grip and comfort, and a clear ceiling: warm feet, a low tongue, and limited support off the easy trail. Buy it for day hikes and light overnighters. Browse the full Best Hiking Boots list if your trips are harder.

Common Questions

Is the Danner Mountain 600 good for hiking?

Yes, for day hikes and light-to-moderate trips. Reviewers praise comfort and grip, and warn about heat, a low tongue, and limited suitability for technical terrain or heavy loads.

Is the Danner Mountain 600 waterproof?

The Leaf GTX version reviewed by OutdoorGearLab, Treeline, Advnture, Grough, and CleverHiker uses Gore-Tex. Advnture notes it is only waterproof to the ankle, and the tongue is a weak spot in stream crossings. Check the box, as the classic 600 uses Danner Dry.

Is the Danner Mountain 600 good for backpacking?

Only for lighter trips. CleverHiker called it 'not the best option for multi-day trips,' and OutdoorGearLab suggested those with weak ankles might prefer a stiffer boot for backpacking.

Does the Danner Mountain 600 run hot?

Yes in warm weather. Advnture said they 'all run a bit warm,' Grough's tester got warm feet on long walks, and CleverHiker said it runs hot.

How much does the Danner Mountain 600 weigh?

Sources differ: Treeline and CleverHiker cite Danner's 2 lb 4 oz per pair, Advnture lists 18 oz per boot, Grough weighed 1,124 g per pair, and OutdoorGearLab measured 3.03 lb in a size 14.